I mentioned in a previous post that we have had some issues with Boston lying and telling 'fibs'. I thought things were getting better... and then on Monday I got asked the question:
'How did Jaxon die?'
Jaxon isn't dead. In fact, he's alive and well, which wasn't the case earlier this year! I should have known better than to even ask where on earth they had heard such a crazy lie, but I did. The answer:
'Boston told us at church yesterday.'
I just looked at Boston in disbelief and said 'When you get home from school today, you are in a BIG trouble..' I really hoped he would worry about his consequences all day at school. All morning I wondered how I was going to get a handle on this. It's been an ongoing issue for awhile now, but mostly just little fibs about silly things. For instance, he would say yes when I asked him if he has washed his hands after using the bathroom when I know darn well the water didn't run. Or 'Yes mom, I already washed my hair.' when I peak in the shower and his hair isn't even wet! Those fibs are still lies, but not quite as awful as lying at church about your dog dying!
I posted a picture of Jaxon on Facebook that morning with a comment that if Boston had happened to tell anyone else at church that the dog had died, it was a lie. I figured everyone would find it comical, and most did. Derek and I laughed about it too! I didn't expect to get the comments that I did though. The children's ministry leader at church commented that Boston had raised his hand for a prayer request because his dog had died. Here I was thinking he had just told a FEW kids this crazy lie, when in deed he had told it to all the kids in Sunday School! His Sunday School teacher commented that he had mentioned the week prior that Jaxon had been barfing all over the house and that he was sick and dying.. and another person commented that his daughter had said a prayer for Boston that night because she felt bad his dog had died..
'Lord, help me...'
When Boston got home from school he asked right away what his consequences were. Maybe he had thought about it all day? For the next 2 weeks he is not allowed to play iPad. This is a huge. He also has to do one hour of homework AND walk the dog twice around the block each day during that 2 weeks. We are on day 4, and the homework part is kind of a punishment for Derek and I too! 'How do you do this?' 'What does it say?' 'Is this letter right?' I may rethink this form of punishment in the future!
Derek came home from work Monday night about 8:30. Boston was already fighting the tears because he was so worried that his dad would spank him. Boston is normally a very good kid, so he not been spanked often. I guess he remembers the few times he has been. Derek sat down by Boston and I and told him how disappointed he was that Boston is continuing to lie. We talked about who lying hurts (mom, dad, friends, and God), and also asked him why he was doing it. He wasn't sure, but we know it is for attention. Derek is always so calm & collected with this type of thing. He told Boston that since he had lied about Jaxon dying, that Boston must not love our dog or want him around anymore, so he had decided that on Tuesday morning he was taking Jaxon away. Boston and I were both crying. I knew Derek wasn't for real (or maybe he was?!) but I am such a softie and was hurting so bad for Boston. He was feeling quite bad about his lie. Derek then asked Boston if he thought it was a good idea to get rid of Jaxon? Boston said no, that he didn't want the dog to go away. Derek then asked him what he thought his punishment should be.. and Boston replied:
'I need to tell all of my friends at church that I told a lie.'
We are proud of him for that. It won't be an easy thing to tell all of his friends he made a mistake, but we are praying this lesson will be an example for the other kids. Hopefully these next 10 days go quickly, and that at the end of the 2 weeks he has learned a hard lesson.
His cute-ness makes up for the naughty-ness :) I love school pictures!
